Articles

Dublin Bay One-Design Class
November 1944 - Yachting World
A. Mylne

Few designers are so laconic as Mr Mylne who sends us the plans for his Dublin Bay One-Design Class with the sole descriptive remark: "The design is obviously intended to be that of a fast cruiser with accommodation for living on board in moderate comfort." We shall therefore have to omit the usual 'Designers Remarks', but it would have been interesting to have known the terms of reference given to Mr. Mylne and the way in which he complied with them.

There is plenty to be said about the design, for it is seldom that we have the pleasures of seeing the lines of a new vessel from the board of so great an artist as Alfred Mylne. Five boats have been built to this design, and were completed only shortly before the war, and they now await the end of the war to be used. These new 24-footers should prove to be worthy successors to the famous old 25-foot class which was started in 1898 and has been going strong ever since. It will be remembered, too, that some years ago Mylne also designed a 21ft. one-design class for Dublin Bay.

The Adastra

Since the objects which inspired this design - a fast cruiser with accommodation for two people- are very similar to those for which the Yachting World 25ft. L.W.L. designing competition was devised, comparison with the published designs should prove most interesting to readers.

The necessity for providing accommodation has of course influenced the lines and dimensions. The hull is comparatively beamy with long overhangs which are beautifully formed and contribute much to the handsome appearance. The midship section is especially pleasing, showing ample stability and fairly light displacement for the beam, while the fore and aft lines indicate an easily driven vessel with a high maximum speed. It is interesting to note that the formation of the load waterline is in marked contrast to the practice adopted to present-day designs. The fairly long straight bottom or the keel will ensure easy slipping.

A large cockpit 5ft. 6in. long will give room for the crew when racing without placing their weight too far aft. At the forward end of the cockpit a hatch covers a 2-cylinder Watermota engine which drives the propeller offset to starboard.

Down below, the general arrangement of the accommodation can be seen by studying the plan. For sleeping two pipe berths are placed over the settees while a third person could be accommodated in the forecastle. The W.C. is shut off from the passageway by two doors, the larger one if the two swings across to shut off both passage and closet from the saloon. The raised coach roof extends just far enough forward to provide headroom in the W.C. compartment.

It is not to be expected that the space available in a boat of this size and type and type with her rather low freeboard, would allow for full headroom and a wide cabin sole, but there is almost 6 feet under the extend of the companion hatch by the galley where it is most important. Under the beams of the coach roof there is 5ft. 3in., while the sitting headroom is adequate. Between the settees the foot space is 1ft. 9in.

The sail area of 519 square feet by Y.R.A. measurement is considerable for a boat of this size, especially as the actual total area with the genoa is about 600 square feet. The old 25ft. class carried a great deal more sail than this with their topsails set and, what is more, they could continue it carry it in a fresh breeze. Modern rig does not require is great an area, but the hard driving Dublin Bay owners should be able to maintain their reputation with these new boats.

The designer has attained the sail area without using a very high mast, for with a foot of 19ft., the mainsail has a moderate hoist of 39 feet. There are two pairs of crosstrees, the jib stay being taken to the upper pair, the upper shrouds being secured about 2 feet below the truck. The sail plan has obviously not been influenced by the Y.R.A rating rule, because a spinnaker boom of 12ft. 6in. long has been provided, whereas the foot of the fore triangle is only 11 feet.

There is always great interest in yachts of about this size and type, and these Dublin Bay One-Design craft are eminently suitable for fast cruisers where the emphasis is upon ailing qualities rather than below decks.

Dublin Bay 24 designed  by Europa Web Design | Contact